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Mario Kart World isn't Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's replacement
Nintendo Everything • • technology
Key Points:
- Nintendo released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a 14-year-old game, adding new features such as 8-player split-screen multiplayer support on Nintendo Switch 2 and enhanced display compatibility for high-resolution TVs.
- The update significantly improves load times on Nintendo Switch 2, speeds up all characters slightly, and aligns the Boo item’s behavior with Mario Kart World, requiring players to reset world record time trials.
- Nintendo’s decision to update Mario Kart 8 Deluxe alongside launching Mario Kart World suggests the two titles are meant to coexist as separate branches of the franchise rather than one replacing the other.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains highly popular, having sold over 70 million copies and nearly 500,000 in the last quarter, while Mario Kart World has sold over 15 million copies, offering players different racing experiences.
- This strategy of supporting both old and new titles simultaneously may hint at Nintendo’s approach for future major franchises on Switch 2, balancing evergreen games with new releases to maximize sales and player choice.
